Chapter 2 - Numb

This is the second chapter of the book.

Kenan found himself in a debate with Elysia. “Kenan. No way am I allowing you to go after these killers alone.” said Elysia. “Honey, I know that this is very hard to hear but I need you to stay home.” said Kenan. “Why?” said Elysia. “Because I believe that these foes are beyond you.” said Kenan. Elysia held Kenan’s head and said, “Kenan Johnston. Have you forgotten what I said to you before? Where you go, I go. I don’t care how powerful they are. If I die at their hands, it will be by your side.” “There is no convincing you. Is there?” said Kenan. “You know it.” said Elysia as she kissed Kenan. “Okay well then let’s start by protecting the staff of Blackburn Industries.” said Kenan. “How do we do that?” said Elysia. “We can have a meeting with its owner. Caesar Blackburn.” said Kenan as he pulled out his phone. “Ok cool.” said Elysia. The very next day, Kenan and Elysia found themselves at the Prudential Tower. “Ah. Seeing that building again brings me back. I can’t believe that was seven years ago.” said Kenan as he touched the golden key he kept around his neck. “You told me you entered heaven by jumping from the roof. Right?” said Elysia. “Right on. I hope Peter and the angels are doing fine. Anyway, Blackburn Industries has their offices on the thirteenth floor. Let’s go in.” said Kenan as he led Elysia into the building to take the elevator. The couple then approached the front desk secretary. “Oh hello. Can I help the two of you?” said the secretary. “Yes. We are here to meet with Mr. Caesar Blackburn.” said Kenan. “Oh, you must be Cassius Johnston’s son Kenan. Right.” said the secretary. “Yes.” said Kenan. “Please wait right here. I will call for him.” said the secretary as she picked up her phone. In a matter of minutes one of the office doors opened and a group of men in business suits came out. One of those men was Caesar Blackburn himself. He was a middle aged African American man in a business suit. His head was bald. He was six feet tall. He was overweight. He had a wooden cane. He wore rings on all his fingers. “Hey Kenan!!” said Caesar as he approached Kenan as he shook hands with him. “It’s so great to see you Mr. Blackburn.” said Kenan. “Right. Say who’s the lady with you?” said Caesar. “That lady is my wife.” said Kenan. “Oh, that is great. When did you get married?” said Caesar. “We’ve been married for three years now.” said Kenan. “I see. That is a nice white suit you got on there Kenan. Where’d you get it?” said Caesar. “My mother-in-law gave it to me as a gift.” said Kenan. “Cool. Anyway, what can I do for you Kenan?” said Caesar. “Can we talk in your conference room?” said Kenan. “Of course.” said Caesar as he led Kenan, Elysia, and his men to his conference room. In the room were large filing cabinets by the walls and a circular wooden table in the center. At the corner of the room was a large metallic safe. Kenan and Elysia sat down at the table facing Caesar. Caesar’s men stood around the room by the walls. “I got to say Mr. Blackburn. Your office floor looks very nice.” said Kenan. “Thank you. So, what do you want to talk about?” said Caesar. “I’m sure you watched the video of that man who was killed.” said Kenan. “Yeah, I did. He was a hardworking man, and he will be missed. I gave my condolences to his wife and children. What about it?” said Caesar. “We are here to advise you to evacuate all of your staff from here including you.” said Kenan. Caesar laughed and said, “You want me to get my workers out of here? Like I am going to do that after some vile threatening video.” said Caesar. “Well, the people who made those threats are coming after you. Do you really want to sit here and wait for that to happen after seeing that?” said Kenan. “Okay I think we're done here.” said Caesar as he stood up. “We’re not leaving until everyone on this floor does.” said Kenan. And with that, Caesar’s men surrounded Kenan and Elysia, pulled out loaded handguns and pointed them at the couple. “As I said, I think we are done here. My guys here will escort you to the elevator and take it back down to the first floor.” said Caesar. “I don’t think so.” said Kenan as he used his time magic to freeze Caesar and his men in place, leaving them unable to move. Elysia transformed into her lamia form, jumped from her chair and slapped all the gunmen with her snake tail, having them fall onto the floor. At the same time, Kenan released Caesar from his magic. “What the hell are you people?” said Caesar. “Have you ever heard of the Time Guardians?” said Kenan. “So, you really do exist.” said Caesar. “Yes. Now how about you do as my hubby said.” said Elysia as she reverted to her human form. “I will. I promise. I will do it.” said Caesar. The business owner then walked over to his safe, opened it and placed bundles of cash onto the table. “Boss. Are you sure you want to go along with this? Isn’t that your emergency money?” said one of the gunmen. “I have no other choice. Now Kenan this money is for staff to take with them to leave and work from home. Is that good?” said Caesar. “Yes. That sounds great.” said Kenan. And with that, Kenan and Elysia watched Caesar give every single employee including the secretary a bundle of cash then had them head for the elevator to leave the building. Unfortunately for the crowd, Psyche and Ember had already reached the thirteenth floor and walked out of the elevator. “Hello Blackburn Industries!!” said Psyche as she raised her right hand and all the lights turned off on their own. The employees screamed for their lives and ran towards the stairwells. Only Kenan, Elysia, Caesar, and the gunmen were left facing the assailants. “Aren’t you two going to go after them?” said Kenan. “Did you really believe we wanted them? Hell to the no. We want Caesar and his gunmen. Let us kill them and you and your precious wife won’t get hurt.” said Ember. “How did you know that we are married?” said Elysia. “We are telepaths. We know all about anyone we see.” said Psyche. Kenan stepped in front of Caesar and said, “I am afraid I can’t let you harm him.” “So, you want to protect a scumbag like him.” said Psyche. “Why is he a scumbag?” said Kenan. “Why don’t you ask him that yourself?” said Psyche. “Caesar, what are they talking about?” said Elysia. “Nothing!! They know nothing!!!!” said Caesar. “There is no way I am dying here!! Screw this!!!” said one of the gunmen as he ran for the stairwell. “Bradley!! Wait!!!” said Caesar. Kenan gasped as he heard that name. “We have a better idea. We’ll take out the minions one by one first. So go ahead and run to your death.” said Ember as she followed Psyche in pursuit of Bradley. Kenan whistled and Priscilla came in through the window. “Come on honey.” said Kenan as he mounted onto Priscilla’s back and pulled Elysia along. “A unicorn?” said Caesar. “No time to explain. We’ll be right back for you. Don’t think we’re done here.” said Kenan as he and Elysia rode Priscilla after Psyche, Ember, and Bradley. Kenan breathed heavily and clutched onto the reins as he heard the echoing sounds of Bradley’s screaming and the telepaths laughing. “Honey are you alright?” said Elysia. “I am not. Your mom was right about me. My powers are evolving.” said Kenan. “Why do you think that?” said Elysia. “Because everything that happened in my dream is happening. The time has come for me to accept this as a part of me.” said Kenan. “Really? Then that means you can stop this death from happening.” said Elysia. “Yes, and that is what I am going to do. Come on Priscilla. Yah!!” said Kenan as he made his unicorn fly even faster to Bradley as he made it to the roof of the same apartment complex in the alley. Bradley gasped at the sight of both Kenan and the assailants magically appearing at his location. Out of fear, Bradley pulled out his pocketknife. Kenan stood facing Psyche and Ember ready to use his time magic to stop them but it failed due to an intense pain in his cranium. “Kenan!!” said Elysia as she turned into her lamia form and attempted to slap the telepaths with her snake tail but was punched with a burning fist by Ember causing her to land on the ground next to Kenan. “We can’t let you get in the way, Time Guardian. You will now see the truth and the reason why we deserve justice.” said Psyche as she and Ember began to kill Bradley. Kenan’s body went from numb to paralysis. Elysia fought with all her might to stop Psyche and Ember but proved to be no match for them.